Retrial of case in which judge had been defendant’s lawyer

THE High Court has found a district court judge who had previously acted as a defence lawyer for a man who later appeared before him on drink-driving charges may have found it difficult to bring “an open mind” to the case.

Mr Justice George Birmingham found the man, who was jailed for six months, was largely the “author of his own misfortune” but he viewed the proceedings before the district court with a “significant degree of disquiet”.

He has directed a retrial in the district court.